Method and means for manufacturing filter mouthpiece cigarettes



April 15, 1958 KGRBER 2,830,595

METHOD AND MEANS FOR MANUFACTURING FILTER MOUTHPIECE CIGARETTES FiledJune 22, 1954 2,830,595 Patented Apr. 15, 1958 Fine METHQD AND MEANS FORMANUFACTURING FILTER MOUTHPKECE CIGARETTES Kurt Kdrher,Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany, assignor to Kurt Kiirber & Co. K.-G.,Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany Application June 22, 1954, Serial No. 438,532

Claims priority, application Germany September 22, 1953 V Claims. (21.131-94 The invention relates to improvements in the manufacture offilter mouthpiece cigarettes or the like, and has particular referenceto a method and means by which an assemblage consisting of twocigarettes arranged in spaced axial alinement with a mouthpiece ofdouble length therebetween is formed on rotary members and the mentionedcigarette parts are joined together by a glued connecting band andthereafter the assembly is divided in the center of the mouthpiece sothat two cigarettes each having a mouthpiece are produced.

The present invention difiers basically from known machines and methodsof this kind in that first the mouthpieces of double length aredeposited on a rotary member and are brought into contact with the gluedconnecting bands, whereupon the latter are deposited upon a secondrotary member on which the cigarettes supplied from two sides are laiddown on the end portions of the connecting bands projecting beyond themouthpieces. The end portions of the connecting bands extendinglaterally beyond the ends of the cigarettes-mouthpiecegroups are thenwrapped around the abutting joints between the mouthpieces and the twoadjacent cigarettes on the same rotating member, thereafter theassemblages thus formed are severed in the center of the mouthpiece andthe mouthpiece cigarettes formed in this manner are conveyed to a placeof deposit.

This and other objects of the invention are described in the followingspecification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings showing apreferred embodiment of a machine of the invention:

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammatically a side view of a machine, partlyshown in sectional view; and,

Fig. 2 represents a top view, with the magazines for mouthpieces andcigarettes cut away for sake of clarity.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the magazine 1 contains the mouthpieces M ofdouble-length which pieces are deposited at Mi into trough-like grooves2a on the circumference of a rotary drum 2 rotating in the direction ofthe arrow 2 (counterclockwise).

In order to obtain an accurate placement of the mouth pieces into thegrooves 211, there are provided lateral guide plates 3a and 3b (Figs. 1,2) between which said mouthpieces M are passed through when the drum 2revolves, permitting the mouthpieces to accurately adjust themselves inthe grooves 2a of the drum 2. There are also provided two arcuate strips30 and 3d Which prevent the mouthpieces from dropping out of the grooveswhen the drum is rotated.

Suction ducts 2b communicate with the bottoms of the grooves 2 in amanner known per so, which ducts after the drum 2 has been rotatedbeyond the guide strips 30, 3d are brought into communication with aconnecting passage 20 which communicates with a source of suctionthrough a duct 2d. The mouthpieces are thus retained in the grooves 2:1by means of the applied suction force, after they have passed the guidestrips 30, 3d.

At the point M2 glued connecting bands 4a are afiixed to themouthpieces, which bands, are cut-off at 5 from a paper tape 4 unwindingby action of driver wheels 5a from a supply spool 45 in the direction ofthe arrow 4b. The individual bands 4a are deposited on a rotary suctiondrum 6 by action of wheels 5b.

The suction drum 6 also is provided with suction ducts 6a whichcommunicate through a connecting duct 6b with a suction pipe 6c and thusretain the severed connecting bands 4a on the drum 6. These connectingbands are at 4a coated by a drum 7 with an adhesive which by theintermediary of a drum 8 is supplied by a drum 9 with adhesive containedin the receptacle 10.

After the mouthpieces M together with the connecting bands 4a adheringthereto have been moved by the rotary drum 2 from the place M2 to theplace M3, the connecting bands together with the mouthpieces adheringthereto are deposited on a rotary drum 11 which rotates clockwise in thedirection of the arrow 11'.

The rotary drum 11 is so wide that it is possible to place groups of twoaxially spaced and axially alined cigarettes Z thereon, with themouthpiece M therebetween. For this purpose there are provided at eachof the two ends of the mouthpieces M around the periphery of the drum 11two rings 11a, 11b and 11c, 11d, respectively, which are provided withaxially extending grooves. At the point Z the cigarettes Z are depositedin pairs into the grooves in these rings 11a, 11b and 11c, 11d,respectively, from two magazines 12a and 1211 (see also Fig. 2) so thatthey come to rest with one of their ends, which face the mouthpieces Mupon the projecting end portions of the connecting bands do to thecenter portions of which the mouthpieces are adhering. 1

Furthermore the provision is made that the discharge supports 1211 and12b; of the magazines Ru and 12b are inclined as shown at Hil and 12b(see Fig. 2), towards the mouthpiece M, in order to assure that thecigarettes Z are moved into abutting engagement with the ends of themouthpiece. The cigarettes leaving the dis charge branch of the magazinethus hit against the respective end portion of the mouthpiece and latercome to rest upon the connecting band.

The connecting band deposited on the periphery of the drum 11 togetherwith the mouthpiece M adhering thereto, and as well the cigarettes Zdeposited in the grooves of the drum rings 11a, 11b, 11 c and 11d areretained thereon by means of air suction, which in a well known manneris provided through suction ducts Me which are in communication withsuction pipe 14 by a connecting channel 13.

After the cigarettes Z abutting in lengthwise direction against the endfaces of the mouthpieces M have been deposited at Z1 on the connectingband, the latter is wrapped around the mouthpiece and around the endportions of the cigarettes contacting said pieces by means of foldingelements. This is accomplished by the folding element 14a and 14b (shownin Fig. 1 in dotted lines), eachof which elements is controlled by astationary cam 15:; and 15b, respectively. This method of folding theconnecting band does not form part of the invention and therefore is notdescribed and shown in detail but is the subject matter of U. S. Patent2,714,384, issued August 2, 1955.

After the connecting band has been completely wrapped around thecigarettes and the mouthpiece, the latter is cut through at its centerby means of a rotary cutting knife 16. Thereafter the suction ducts moveout of communication with the connecting duct 13, so that the nowcompleted mouthpiece cigarettes can be deposited onto a chute 17 Whichdirects the cigarettes onto a conveyor belt 18 which carries thecigarettes to a collecting magazine not shown.

The described machine is driven by a motor 19-which drives the suctiondrum 6 through an endless belt or chain drive 20, and the conveyor belt18 through another endless belt 21, while the drum 11 is driven by' anendless belt 22 or the like. Mounted on the shaft ofthe rotary drum 11is mounted a gear 23 (also see Fig; 2) which is in engagement with agear 24 on the shaft of the rotary drum 2. The rotary cutter 16 isdriven by means of the chain or belt drive 25 or by means of a separatemotor.

In the described example of the embodiment of the invention thedepositing of the mouthpiece M' onto the drum 2 and the depositingof'the cigarettes Z onto the drum 11 is brought about by a direct feedfrom the magazines. Of course, provision can alsobe made to first havemouthpieces and cigarettes each placed on additional suction drums,which then in turn deposit'mouthpieces and cigarettes, respectively,upon the drums 2 and 11, respectively.

In the shown and described example of embodiment of the invention theconnectingband 4a together with the double length filter mouthpieceadhering thereto is delivered atthe point M3 to the drum 11 in such amanner that it comes to lie against the drum circumference in plane andfiat condition. However, there might be provided grooves on these pointson the circumference of the drum 11, which grooves have a shallow depthfor the reception of the connecting bands so that the connecting bandwhen placed with the mouthpieces into these shallow grooves will besomewhat curved to surround the end portions of the two cigarettes by afraction of their circumference.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing example.It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations andmodifications may be made to the specific construction described in thatexample, without departing from the invention or the scope of theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A method of manufacturing filter mouthpiece cigarettes, including thesteps in sequence of feeding to a circuitous pathway a filter mouthpiecehaving a length of twice the one of the filter mouthpiece in thecomplete cigarette, depositing upon the circumference of said mouthpiecewhile on said pathway a fiat piece of adhes'ively coated connecting bandso that the band extends beyond both ends of said mouthpiece,transferring said mouthpiece and connecting band to another circuitouspathway for reversing said mouthpiece filter with the connecting band sothat the adhesive side is outermost, feeding onto said connecting bandtwo axially spaced and axially alined cigarettes having an axial spacingof at least the length of said double length filter mouthpiece andmoving both said two cigarettes during said feeding movementsimultaneously transversely to their length toward said filtermouthpiece until the latter occupies the space formed between said' twoaxially alined cigarettes and the latter engage the ends of theconnecting band extending from the mouthpiece, wrapping said connectingband around the axially alined cigarettes and filter mouthpiece, andthen severing the formed cigarette and mouthpiece assembly by cuttingthrough the center of the filter mouthpiece, thereby forming twocomplete filter mouthpiece cigarettes.

2. A method of manufacturing filter mouthpiece cigarettes, including thesteps in sequence of feeding to a circuitous pathway a filter mouthpiecehaving a length of twice the one of the filter mouthpiece in thecompleted cigarette, feeding to said pathway for being deposited on thecircumference of said mouthpiece a flat piece of connecting band havingan adhesive coating on one side so that theband extends beyond both endsof said mouthpiece, transferring said mouthpiece and connecting band tanother circuitous pathway for reversing said mouthpiece filter-with theconnecting -bandso that the adhesive side is outermost, feeding twoaxially spaced and axially alined cigarettes having an axial spacing ofat least the length of said double length filter mouthpiece and movingboth said two cigarettes during said feeding movement simultaneouslytransversely to-their length toward said filter mouthpiece until thelatter occupies the space formed between said two axially alinedcigarettes and the latter engage the ends of the connecting bandextending from the mouthpiece, lengthwise moving said two cigarettestoward each other so that the ends adjacent the ends of the mouthpieceare caused to abut said ends of said mouthpiece, wrapping saidconnecting band around the axially alined cigarettes and filtermouthpiece, and then severing the formed cigarette and mouthpieceassembly by cutting through the center of the filter mouthpiece therebyforming .two complete filter mouthpiece cigarettes.

3. A method of manufacturing filter mouthpiece cigarettes, the steps insequence comprising: feeding a filter mouthpiece to a circuitouspathway, feeding to said pathway so as to adhere to the circumference ofsaid mouthpiece a flat piece of'connecting band having an adhesivecoating on one side so that the band extends beyond both ends ofsaid'mouthpiece, transferring said mouthpiece and connecting band toanother circuitous pathway for reversing said mouthpiece filter with theconnecting band so that the adhesive side is outermost, feeding to thesecond pathway two axially spaced and axially alined cigarettes havingan axial spacing of at least the length of said filter mouthpiece, andmoving both said two cigarettes during said feeding movementsimultaneously transversely to their length toward said filtermouthpiece until the latter occupies the space formed between said twoaxially alined cigarettes and the latter engage the ends of theconnecting band extending from the mouthpiece, wrapping said connectingband around the axially alined cigarettes and filter mouthpiece, andthen severing the formed cigarette and mouthpiece assembly by cuttingthrough the filter mouthpiece thereby forming two complete filtermouthpiece cigarettes.

4. A method of manufacturing filter mouthpiece cigarettes, including thesteps in sequence of feeding to a circuitous pathway a filtermouthpiece, feeding to said pathway and to the circumference of saidmouthpiece a flat piece of adhesively coated connecting band so that theband extends beyond both ends of said mouthpiece with the adhesivelycoated side innermost, transferring said mouthpiece and band to anotherpathway to reverse the position of said mouthpiece and connecting band,feeding-to said other circuitous pathway two axially spaced and axiallyalined cigarettes having an axial spacing of at least the length of saidfilter mouthpiece, and moving both said two cigarettes during saidfeeding movement simultaneously transversely to their length toward saidfilter mouthpiece until the latter occupies the space formed betweensaid two axially alined cigarettes and the latter engage the ends of theconnecting band extending from the mouthpiece, lengthwise moving saidtwo cigarettes toward each other so that the ends adjacent the ends ofthe mouthpiece are caused to abut said ends of said mouthpiece, wrappingsaid connecting band around the axially alined cigarettes and filtermouthpiece, and then severing the formed cigarette and mouthpieceassembly by cutting through the filter mouthpiece thereby forming twocomplete filter mouthpiece cigarettes.

5. A method of manufacturing filter mouthpiece cigarettes, including thesteps in sequence of feeding mouthpiece units of double length to acircuitous pathway, feeding adhesively coated connecting band pieces tosaid pathway and in timed relation with the feeding of said mouthpieceunits so that said adhesively coated connecting band pieces will beunited with said filter mouthpiece unit and be afiixed to the peripherythereof such that the connecting band extends beyond the end of thefilter mouthpiece unit a slight distance, transferring said filtermouthpiece and united connecting band to another circuitous pathway toreverse the position of said connecting band and mouthpiece such thatthe adhesively coated side is outermost, feeding two axially aligned andspaced cigarettes to said second circuitous pathway with the spacing ofthe cigarettes equal to the length of said filter mouthpiece, depositingsaid spaced cigarettes on opposite sides of the filter mouthpiece intimed relation with its travel around said circuitous pathway so thatthe inner ends of the cigarettes will be deposited on the adhesivelycoated side of the connecting wrapper and the filter mouthpiece willoccupy the space between the two cigarettes, moving said cigarettesaxially during their depositing movement toward said mouthpiece,wrapping said connecting band around the axially aligned cigarettes andfilter mouthpiece during their travel around the second circuitouspathway,

and finally severing the formed cigarette and mouthpiece assembly bycutting through the filter mouthpiece intermediate its ends therebyforming two complete filter mouthpiece cigarettes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,999,911 May Apr. 30, 1935 2,002,886 Edwards May 28, 1935 2,150,512 MayMar. 14, 1939 2,162,424 Edwards June 13, 1939 2,166,486 Edwards July 18,1939 2,188,998 Edwards Feb. 6, 1940 2,194,378 Bernd Mar. 19, 1940FOREIGN PATENTS 687,878 Great Britain Feb. 25, 1953

